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Determinants of Tendency to Deviant Social Identity Among Delinquent Youth

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Determinants of Tendency to Deviant Social Identity Among Delinquent Youth ISSN 2414-8385 (Online) European Journal of September-December 2017 ISSN 2414-8377 (Print Multidisciplinary Studies Volume 2, Issue 6 Determinants of Tendency to Deviant Social Identity among Delinquent Youth Hossein Afrasiabi Assistant professor of Sociology, Yazd University Abstract Deviant identity has been recognized as one of the main causes of the crime in a large number of the studies. Formation of criminal or deviant identity are affected by different social conditions this study was conducted in order to investigate the factors underlying the deviant identity among the delinquent youth. The research sample consisted of 15-25years old delinquent youth in Yazd city. A survey was used as research method and data were collected using the questionnaires. The results showed that destructive social capital, Anomie and deviance in the family, have a significant relationship with deviant identity. Keywords: Deviant Identity, Social Capital, Anomie, Family, Crime. Introduction The concept of deviant identity has been defined by the researchers in different ways. Some defined it as exiting an ordinary life style (Irwin, 1977; Lofland, 1969; Meisenhelder, 1977; Shover, 1983). Others argued that the deviant people never abandon their former identity and select a new role (Ebaugh, 1988). Labeling perspective considers the deviant identity as a factor that prevents the labeled deviant people enter the society (Sampson & Laub, 1997; Link, 1982; Lemert, 1972; Becker, 1963). The formation of criminal or deviant identity and having such a self-definition are affected by different social conditions. As Stryker emphasized in theory of identity salience, as much as a person has a salient identity, s/he plays those roles that are related to the functional expectations of their identity. In this way, s/he regards all situations as the opportunities for improvement and implementation of the identity and seek to find (or provide) those opportunities that are relevant for expression of identity (Turner, 2003). Deviant identity has been addressed in many studies as one of the most important factors of the criminal actions. For example, Walters (2016) in his study concluded that the deviant identity predicts the deviant thinking and delinquency. Deviant identity has a major role in the growth of antisocial personality. This has been considered in other studies, too (Thompson, 2009; Watson, 2007; Matsueda, 1992). A variety of studies has been carried out on the factors related to deviant identity; Fergusson et al. (2007) concluded that relationship with deviant friends and destructive social capital leads to deviant behavior. Boduszek et al. (2012) showed that criminal relationships with close friends and inadequate supervision of parents have a direct effect on social or identity. Rocheleau and Chavez (2014) found that deviant peers strengthen labeling and deviant identity of the people. One of the fundamental effects of the family can be observed on the identity formation of the children. A number of scholars believe that family factors and deviant family leads to the deviant identity of the children. Shaw et al. (1991) and Simons et al. (1991) regard the lack of affection and poor parenting practices as a factor in creating deviant identity. Vazsonyi and Belliston (2007) in their study showed that family processes have direct and indirect effect on the deviation of the people. The results of the study conducted by Abigatil et al. (2010) indicated that family factors lead to the tendency of children towards crime and deviance. Studies have also been conducted on the anomie and deviation; Zojonc (2013) showed that there is a significant relationship between anomie and deviance and crime. Carter and Carter (2014) concluded that anomie caused a further deviation. Noriega et, al (2014) showed that anomie increases the criminal behaviors. There are a high number of people who have a criminal record with different repeated social deviations. On the other hand, living and interactions can shape and strengthen this deviant identity. This study followed the question that Which variables are related to the acceptance of deviant identity? 299 ISSN 2414-8385 (Online) European Journal of September-December 2017 ISSN 2414-8377 (Print Multidisciplinary Studies Volume 2, Issue 6 Theoretical Background The theoretical framework draws from the theory of interaction, differential association and Merton's theory of anomie. Among the different theories that have been raised in explaining the social deviations, symbolic interaction approach mainly focuses on the self and identity and emphasizes that formation of deviant interaction has a bilateral relationship with self and identity; especially since the commission of deviancy and its social outcomes influence on the formation of deviant identity. Last but not least, identity, as a social concept, has been mainly developed in the framework of interaction. Concerning the crime, symbolic interaction theorists believe that individual self-concept as a deviant or law-abiding person is formed through the development of functionality processes and social interactions (Matsueda, 1992; Thornberry, 1987). Once this process is repeated over time, deviant identity and improving the functional commitment and social relations in the network increase (Stryker & Burk, 2000). One of the views consistent with the views of social identity is the theory of differentiation proposed by Sutherland in relation to social deviations. He believes that deviant behavior, like other social behaviors are learned through companionship and association with others (Sutherland & Cressy, 1966: 170). According to this theory, the greater the individual's relationship with deviant individuals, it can be the basis for strengthening the deviant identity of the people. From this perspective, the formation of deviant identity above all is the result of social interactions with individuals, groups and environments that are involved in criminal behavior and deviation. In these situations, people learn that deviation is a natural and normal part of the individual life and therefore, they try to appeal it for solving their problems. Gradually as the interaction and contact with deviant people increases, individual deviant identity is strengthen, too. Of course, these interactions in contemporary sociology literature can be mainly raised in relation to the concept of "social capital". Hutter and Smith conducted a study on released prisoners and found that social capital is one of the most important factors for re-entering the prison. They stated that having high social capital faciliates accessing to important resources such as jobs and housing that are two important variables to connect the people and society (Hattery & Smith, 2010: 101). Merton believes that anomie and some forms of abnormal behavior mainly result from separation of the cultural institutional goals of a society and social ways to achieve those objectives. In other words, the gap between goals and legitimate means to achieve them lead to failure in individual and social values (Garfield, 1987: 272). The main assumption of this theory is that market mechanisms and regulations cause anomic stresses. Market strengthens the materialistic views on social relations. When these trends will continue, probably anomie occurs. When the objectives are promoted by cultural support, while the controller normative tools lose continuous effect, conditions for the anomic activities are provided. In an anomic environment, activists are engaged with the results and efficiency of the action, not the legitimacy of tools that helps regulate behavior. Normative control failure likely increases the amount of improper behaviors such as crime and deviance (Messner, S., Rosenfeld, 1997: 936). According to Sutherland, in fact, destructive social capital leads to a kind of deviant identity; because people try to mimic the deviant behaviors and as this relationship continues, this deviant identity is strengthened. On the other hand, according to the symbolic interaction, family is the most important place where individual functionality is shaped; therefore, any kind of the deviancy in family, lead to deviant behaviors and since these people tend to communicate with deviant groups, the network of their relationships create a destructive social capital. Also according to Merton, anomic conditions and undermining the normative control, will lead to the deviant behaviors; so, anomic conditions may shape the destructive social capital; so, based on the theoretical framework, research model is outlined as follows: Figure 1: Theoretical model 300 ISSN 2414-8385 (Online) European Journal of September-December 2017 ISSN 2414-8377 (Print Multidisciplinary Studies Volume 2, Issue 6 Methods Participants and Method This is an applied research survey. The Statistical population consists of all youth delinquents in the rehabilitation of Yazd City-Iran, of whom 381 were selected using the Cochran formula; statistical samples were obtained using systematic random sampling; a list was prepared and respondents were selected using the sampling ratio. Scales Researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection. Answers were scored based on the Likert scale. The face validity and reliability of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's alpha. The questionnaire had two parts. The first part included demographic and descriptive variables such as gender, age, type of crime and recidivism rate and the second part included
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